God calls the church His body. The church is the bride, the Lamb's wife. God is the Father of the family, the Shepherd of the flock. But a mere outward connection with any church will not save a man. It is personal faith in a personal Saviour which brings the soul into spiritual union with Christ. This truth Christ plainly teaches in the sixth chapter of John.-- Ms 121, 1899, p. 17. Ellen G. White Estate Washington, D. C. October 30, 1986.